UAW-GM Quality 500, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina, October 7th, 2001:
*Pre-Race Festivities*
Thousands of firefighters from New York City, North Carolina and other locales marched along the track's entire apron to the sound of bag pipes.
**Pledge of Allegiance**
**God Bless America**
**God Bless the USA**
Upon completion of Lee Greenwood's performance there was a 2-plane F15(??) flyover and then massive chanting of "USA"
**Final phase of Pre-Race festivities delayed due to the Breaking News regarding the United States and British Air Forces retaliating against Afghanistan terrorist targets. The live NBC report was placed onto the infield projection screens facing the grandstands and simulcast over the PA system**
*More chanting*
**National Anthem** performed by Lee Greenwood
*Gentlemen! Start your engines!* command given by the NYC Firefighters
*Engines started*
Greg: Chris, can you get the flag up there or you want me to?
Chris: I can get it from up here if you want.
Greg: *interference*
Chris: 10-4.
Pace Laps:
Chris: Ok Big John, 3rd time by.
John: 10-4.
John: Looks like Carl doesn't know where to line up.
John: Does he know that he starts out there?
Chris: I'll try to find him and tell him.
John: Did we get "the pit road" yet?
Chris: Nope, not yet.
Chris: Okay, there it is.
John: 4100, 2nd gear.
Chris: 4100, 2nd gear.
Chris: 1 to go, John.
John: 10-4 on 1 to go.
Greg: When you're coming down pit road your stall is RIGHT HERE. Just ahead of the #17 car.
Chris: Okay buddy, check your belts. 334 laps. Long afternoon. Gonna be some give and take today. Be careful. Have a good day.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Pace car's off. Be ready. Be ready. Ready. Green flag. Green flag:
Chris: (Lap 10) Great job, buddy. Stay after 'em.
**Note: Already running 18th. Started 31st**
John: (Lap 13) Tight right in the center.
Chris: 10-4.
John: (Lap 16) Getting tight.
Greg: 10-4, John. Try running back up top. You were running good laps up there. We'll work on it for you. Caution Lap 23: #21 into Turn 2 wall.
Chris: Caution is out, bud. Wreck in Turn 2.
John: I'm okay in; tight center; tight up off.
**Note: Amazing the handling was like that while John flew by all those competitors**
John: It's tighter off Turn 4 than it is off Turn 2.
Greg: 10-4. We'll go up on RR with air just a nudge.
Greg: You were running very good up higher; under 55. How was it up there?
John: Tight. They were just strolling along on the bottom so I went up high.
John: I never went all the way to the top. I'm sure it would have helped.
Greg: 10-4; that's what the others were doing. They went straight to the top.
Chris: Here they come. Come on guys. Let's give him a good one.
Greg: 4 tires guys. 4 tires.
John: Tell Atwood if he pits like that again I'm going to hit 'em. I think I'm going to have to back up.
Greg: John, you're clear buddy. You can make it.
Pit Stop (Lap 22) 4 tires, fuel. 16.3 seconds.
Greg: How do the temps look, John?
John: Temps look fine.
Chris: 1 to go buddy.
John: 10-4 on the 1 to go.
Chris: Pace car's off, bud. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 26
**Note (Lap 28) Rudd almost ran us in the wall in Turn 2**
John: (Lap 40) He can't let me by can he? *Referring to the #92*
Chris: Inside. Inside.
John: (Lap 42) I let him go. *Referring to the #88*
Chris: 10-4.
John: (Lap 48) I'm going to **bleep** him up. Stupid **bleep**. Caution Lap 48: #01, #75, #32, #9 Wreck in Turn 4.
Chris: Caution is out. Wreck back behind you in Turn 4.
Chris: Track is clear. 2 cars sitting here on the apron.
Greg: Looks like they put down quite a lot of debris.
John: I'm tight behind someone; fine by myself.
Greg: *interference*
John: 10-4. I guess that's that aero push.
John: Stupid son-of-a-**bleep** in front of me. Don't give him anymore set-ups. Stupid son-of-a-**bleep**.
Greg: 4 tires guys. Point out John so you won't get blocked in.
John: 10-4 on point out. Don't get run over.
Chris: Pit road is closed.
John: 10-4.
Greg: John we'll just do 4 tires here. Track position is critical now.
John: Let's just stay in the hunt here and then worry about what we're going to do later. *pause* Maybe...
Chris: Pits are still closed.
Greg: Temps still running okay, John?
John: 10-4.
Greg: Is she loose on you anywhere at all?
John: No. It skips out a little over the bumps, but other than that I'm fine.
Greg: I'm going to take a half-round out of the LR.
John: Yeah, 10-4. I think that's a good call.
Chris: Okay pit road is open.
Chris: Here he comes guys. They're all coming.
Pit Stop (Lap 49) 4 tires, 1/2 round out of LR, fuel. 15.06 seconds.
Chris: Oh no!
Chris: #28 hit the #2. Thought they were coming into you. Great job, buddy.
John: 10-4. I was actually looking at the #33, here.
**Note: Out of pits 20th. Ahead of the #92
Greg: A few of them ahead of you took 2 tires and they should come back to you. You've got a pretty good car under you running a good day.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Okay, John, 1 to go buddy.
John: 10-4 on the 1 to go.
Chris: We're not going John. They say debris in Turn 1.
Chris: 1 to go this time.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Pace car's off. Be ready now. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 55
John: I'm loose off of Turn 4 now.
Chris: 10-4, bud. 10-4.
John (Lap 81) I think you put too much in RR.
**Note: #93, #43, #7 running together on the track. Perhaps the increase in RR from Pit Stop #1 is too much for the half-round taken out of LR from Pit Stop #2.
John: (Lap 90) No grip on rear tires coming up off Turn 4.
Chris: 10-4, bud.
John: (Lap 93) **coming up off Turn 2** Damn. That was like I blew a tire. That was terrible.
John: If I have to use the brakes it feels like it's pushing. Now it's pushing.
Greg: We're going to pit in about 17 laps. Make sure it doesn't feel like a tire is going down.
Greg: Your times are real good. You're catching the ones in front of you. Great job.
John: What he say, Chris?
Chris: Your lap times are real good. Stay where you're at. Your group is catching the one in front of you.
John: (Lap 109) How many more laps?
Greg: Pit next time by, John.
John: How's that?
John: What did Greg say Chris?
Chris: *explains, but* Greg they're talking about debris on the track. If you can stay out another lap or two. I don't know if you can, but they're still talking debris.
Greg: They say anything else, Chris?
Chris: Nope.
Greg: Okay, John, pit this time.
Chris: Here he comes.
Pit Stop (Lap 111) 4 tires, fuel. 14.56 seconds.
Chris: **bleep*. Aw **bleep**. Caution is out. Wreck in Turn 2. Caution Lap 113: #93 wrecks in Turn 2.
John: You knew the flag was going to come out. I don't know why *interference*. The whole **bleep**ing year has been this way.
John: What adjustments did you make, Greg?
Greg: I took the extra air out of the RR. Then I went down on all tires to help you with the grip.
Greg: Everyone had been slowing down.
John: Okay what are we doing here, staying out?
Greg: Yeah stay out. Try and get that lap back. Just try to get that lap back.
John: Yeah. Son-of-a-**bleep**.
John: Thing is the #24 is a lap down. No one is going to give him his lap back.
Chris: 1 to go, buddy.
John: What lane do we go in?
Chris: They're giving them the option.
John: What lane you want me in?
Greg: As far forward as you can. Whichever lane will work best for you.
John: I can't make up my friggin' mind. I'll stay up top.
John: The #14 more than 1 lap down?
Chris: Ok bud. Be ready. Getcha a good one. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 117
Chris: Come on Big John. Go baby. Go Big John.
Chris: Caution is out. Debris on the track. Caution Lap 125: Debris on track.
Chris: Plenty of time. Plenty of time. No pressure from behind.
Chris: Great job. Now getcha self caught back up.
John: 10-4.
Chris: Ok bud, you're gonna catch 'em coming up here in Turn 2.
Greg: Does she feel good, John? If so we'll do the same with just tires. You looked real good.
John: 10-4. Let's do the same thing and hopefully she'll run the same on the track.
Chris: Pits are open. No one's coming.
John: Oh yes they are. I'm coming in.
Greg: Only 2 behind us, John. Come on in.
Pit Stop (Lap 126) 4 tires, fuel. 15.34 seconds.
John: Sorry I didn't get closer to the wall guys.
John: Next time can you get the windshield?
Greg: I was going to get it since we don't have the extra man. We'll get it next time.
Chris: 1 to go, buddy.
John: 10-4. 1 to go.
Chris: Pace car's off. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 130
Chris: Spin behind you bud. Spin behind you. Caution is out. Caution Lap 140: #85 spins in Turn 4.
John: I'm a little bit loose in 3 and 4. Only when I first get back on the throttle. I'm fine when I'm by myself.
Greg: You were running better up front.
John: I have to run their line, their speed, and it messes me up. It's that aero. How many cars behind me?
Greg: 5 cars behind us, John.
John: Is it worth it to come in?
Greg: I was going to suggest 2 if you wanted to come in.
John: That's fine, but since I'm this far back in line and should it turn out to suck then I'll get lapped that much sooner.
Greg: 10-4. 4 tires guys.
Pit Stop (Lap 142) 4 tires, fuel. 14.94 seconds.
John: That was the right thing to do and with fuel. They have a lot of laps on those tires up there, huh?
Chris: *interference*
Chris: 1 to go bud.
John: 10-4. 1 to go.
Chris: Pace car's off. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 145
Chris: Watch it, John. Watch it. Come ON, LOW. Come on. Go high. Another spinning low. Come on. You're good. Great job. Caution Lap 150: #48 Wrecks in Turn 4. #02 spins.
John: I didn't spin the tires. They should be okay.
John: If the front stays out I'm coming in. If they come in, I'll *pause* Oh frig it I'll do what the #24 does.
Greg: #24 is coming in. Robbie told him to come in and he said "10-4".
John: How many cars behind me?
Greg: 5 cars behind you, John.
John: *sounding surprised* 5 on my lap?
John: What do you want to do?
Greg: If it goes green (meaning staying out) it could hurt us.
Greg: Come on in for 4 tires.
Pit Stop (Lap 152) 4 tires, fuel. 15.78 seconds.
Greg: That will put us in our fuel window. That will work in our favor.
John: Don't tell me it's going to work in our favor.
Chris: We got a caution to get back on the lead lap.
Greg: And we just avoided that wreck that just happened in front of us.
John: That mean we have one more shot? *laughs*
John: I guess the #17, #2 are back on the lead lap.
Greg: 10-4. Yeah they got their laps back.
Chris: 1 to go, bud.
John: 10-4. 1 to go.
Chris: Lap cars coming on the inside.
Chris: Pace car's off. Be ready now. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 155
Chris: Spin in front of you. Spin in front of you. They are staying out against the wall. Out against the wall. Come on. Good job. Caution Lap 167: #25, #77 wreck in Turn 2.
John: I still can't run in traffic. Ummm.... *pause* I'm getting up off pretty good. I can't do what I want to.
Greg: 10-4, 10-4, John. We've got good track position now. Come in and get 4 tires.
John: 10-4.
Greg: #24 might stay out. We have 12 laps on these tires.
John: So what you want me to do?
Greg: Come in. There's lot of debris on the track.
Pit Stop (Lap 169) 4 tires, fuel. 14.50 seconds.
Chris: 1 to go.
John: 10-4. 1 to go.
Chris: Lap cars coming on the inside.
Chris: One more coming inside.
Chris: Be ready, bud. Be ready. Be ready. Green flag. Restart Lap 172
**Note: (Lap 174) Turn 4. #24 almost ran us into the wall.
John: (Lap 190) Get this guy in front of me (#1) behind me.
Chris: Do what, John? I didn't hear you, bud.
John: Can you get the #1 out of the way?
Chris: 10-4.
Greg: (Lap 219) #24 short-pitted, John. If you want to gamble on it now's the time to do it.
John: Don't you think we'll get caught?
Greg: It's pretty safe. Field is pretty strung out. Pretty safe. Others talking about it too.
John: Ok. 10-4.
Greg: Come in next time by.
Pit Stop (Lap 221) 4 tires, fuel. 14.16 seconds.
John: (Lap 226) You think the bottom line can see me coming? *sarcasm*
Greg: You need to go hard, John. The #40 is slowing down and getting slower. Go hard. Go hard as you can.
**Note: As luck would have it....** Caution Lap 228: #97 smoking, #10 engine sour.
*interference*
Chris: Okay, Big John *interference*
Chris: 1 to go this time by.
John: 10-4. 1 to go.
John: They're not gonna re-start with all this on the track.
Chris: They hadn't said anything different yet.
John: Lots of speedy-dry down here.
Greg: Where, John, in 1 and 2?
John: We only need to go through it one more time.
Chris: Several of us have complained, but they're saying it's okay.
Chris: Okay, bud. I'll just let you go with him. Restart Lap 235
**Note: Looked like John spun the tires**
Chris: (Lap 253) #24 is a lap or two down.
John: Who's a lap or two down?
Chris: #24 who just passed us.
John: (Lap 263) Funny. Tight off now.
Chris: 10-4.
John: (Lap 276) What's the story with the #33?
Chris: He's down a lap or so.
Chris: (Lap 277) #97 is a lap down to us.
John: (Lap 297) I'm just really pushing bad.
Greg: 10-4. We've got about 8 more laps. We'll do tires.
Chris: 10-4. 8 more laps.
Greg: (Lap 285) Pit next time by. 4 tires.
John: This time?
Chris: 10-4. Pit this time by.
Pit Stop (Lap 286) 4 tires, fuel. [Whoops...I clicked the stop watch into set-up mode. :-(]
John: (Lap 289) Holy **bleep**. This thing is bad loose.
Greg: I went down on both tires in front.
John: This thing is lethal. Whooo! I can hardly drive it.
John: (Lap 292) RF wants to keep tucking under.
Greg: Build some heat into the RF to build it up.
John: Holy **bleep**. God dang it's bad. I know you can't do anything to help me now.
Greg: (Less than 15 to go) The #1, #19, #97, #77 are on our lap, Chris.
Chris: 6 laps to go. Try and beat that #77.
John: I'm just trying to keep it off the **bleep**ing wall.
John: It's tough trying to keep it off the **bleep**ing wall.
Chris: 10-4.
Chris: Ok bud, that's it.
Checkered flag
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